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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (date of earliest event reported):

December 20, 2007

PDL BioPharma, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware		000-19756		94-3023969
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File No.)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1400 Seaport Boulevard

Redwood City, California 94063

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(650) 454-1000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The matters described in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) On December 20, 2007, PDL BioPharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) entered into an Special Severance and Retention Package letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) with David Iwanicki, Vice President, Sales and Sales Operations of the Company.

Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, we agreed to deliver to Mr. Iwanicki a special bonus, severance benefits and accelerated option vesting pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Letter Agreement.

One-Time Bonus. Mr. Iwanicki would be eligible to receive a special bonus of $100,000 (subject to tax withholding) if Mr. Iwanicki remains employed in good standing through the date we terminate Mr. Iwanicki’s employment because we eliminate Mr. Iwanicki’s position in connection with the closing of a transaction or transactions in which our Cardene or Busulfex product assets are sold (a “Commercial Asset Sale”), provided, that Mr. Iwanicki signs and delivers, and does not revoke, our standard separation and general release of claims agreement (the “Release Agreement”). We would pay Mr. Iwanicki this special bonus within 30 days after the termination of Mr. Iwanicki’s employment.

Severance Benefit Prior to a Change in Control. If prior to a Change in Control (i) we terminate Mr. Iwanicki’s employment because we eliminate his position in connection with a Commercial Asset Sale; (ii) Mr. Iwanicki does not receive an employment offer for a comparable position with a company acquiring some or all of the commercial or cardiovascular assets (an “Acquiror”) within 28 days after his employment termination date; (iii) Mr. Iwanicki does not accept any position with an Acquiror within 28 days after his employment termination date; (iv) he remains in good standing through his employment termination date; and (v) Mr. Iwanicki signs and delivers, and does not revoke, the Release Agreement, Mr. Iwanicki would be eligible for the following severance package:

 

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Severance pay (subject to tax withholding) equal to (A) one year of Mr. Iwanicki’s annual base salary plus (B) 100% of Mr. Iwanicki’s target annual bonus (without giving effect to any company performance or other multiplier);

 

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12 months company-paid COBRA benefits (provided Mr. Iwanicki timely elects COBRA coverage);

 

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Six months of outplacement services; and

 

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Acceleration of the vesting of 50% of the total number of shares originally subject to each of Mr. Iwanicki’s stock options (i.e. two years of vesting).

The foregoing severance payment would be paid in a lump sum on the 30^th day following the date of Mr. Iwanicki’s employment termination, provided that Mr. Iwanicki’s Release Agreement has become effective in accordance with its terms prior to such 30^th day. The option acceleration set forth above would be effective on the date Mr. Iwanicki’s Release Agreement has become effective.

Option Acceleration under Certain Conditions. If we terminate Mr. Iwanicki’s employment because we eliminate his position as a result of a Commercial Asset Sale, but Mr. Iwanicki receives an employment offer for a comparable position by an Acquiror (and he is not eligible for severance payments either as provided above, or under the ERSP), we would amend Mr. Iwanicki’s stock options to accelerate the vesting of 25% of the shares subject to each of his stock options, which acceleration would be effective on the date of his employment termination and subject to Mr. Iwanicki’s remaining employed in good standing through the termination date.

Provisions Regarding 2007 Bonus and 401(k) Match. If we terminate Mr. Iwanicki’s employment pursuant to any scenario set forth above before December 31, 2007, Mr. Iwanicki also would receive, in addition to and at the same time as the severance benefits or one-time bonus described above, as applicable, a cash bonus (subject to tax withholding) equal to the amount of the match to his 401(k) retirement savings plan account that Mr. Iwanicki would have received had he remained employed with us through December 31, 2007. In addition, if we terminate

 

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Mr. Iwanicki’s employment pursuant to any scenario set forth above before we pay out the 2007 company bonus, Mr. Iwanicki would receive, at the time the 2007 company bonus is paid to employees (but in any event no later than March 15, 2008), the amount of his target bonus (pro-rated for his length of service in 2007, as adjusted by the company performance multiplier and subject to tax withholding).

If Mr. Iwanicki voluntarily leaves the Company, Mr. Iwanicki would not be eligible to receive any severance or other benefits pursuant to this Letter Agreement.

A copy of the Letter Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Letter Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.1.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.		Exhibit Description
10.1		Special Severance and Retention Package Letter Agreement between PDL BioPharma, Inc. and David Iwanicki effective December 20, 2007

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 21, 2007

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

December 7, 2007

Mr. David Iwanicki

[***]

[***]

 

Re:

Special Severance and Retention Package

Dear Dave:

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors recently approved an enhanced severance and retention package for you as a key officer at PDL, particularly given your role in the management of the process to pursue the sale of PDL’s commercial and cardiovascular assets (the “Asset Sale Process”). We view your contributions as critical to PDL during this time of transition. As such, PDL is offering you a special bonus, severance benefits and accelerated option vesting pursuant to the terms and conditions of this letter agreement.

One-Time Bonus. In recognition of your key role in the Asset Sale Process, you would be eligible to receive a special bonus of $100,000 (subject to tax withholding) if you remain employed in good standing through the date we terminate your employment because we eliminate your position in connection with the closing of a transaction or transactions in which our Cardene or Busulfex product assets are sold (a “Commercial Asset Sale”), provided, that you sign and deliver to PDL our standard separation and general release of claims agreement (the “Release Agreement”) within 21 days of your receipt of the Release Agreement and you do not revoke the Release Agreement. We would pay you this special bonus within 30 days after the termination of your employment.

Severance Benefit Prior to a Change in Control. If prior to a Change in Control (i) we terminate your employment because we eliminate your position in connection with a Commercial Asset Sale; (ii) you do not receive an employment offer for a comparable position with a company acquiring some or all of the commercial or cardiovascular assets (an “Acquiror”) within 28 days after your employment termination date; (iii) you do not accept any position with an Acquiror within 28 days after your employment termination date; (iv) you remain in good standing through your employment termination date; and (v) you sign and deliver to PDL our standard separation and general release of claims agreement (the “Release Agreement”) within 21 days of your receipt of the Release Agreement and you do not revoke the Release Agreement, you would be eligible for the following severance package:

 

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Severance pay (subject to tax withholding) equal to (A) one year of your annual base salary plus (B) 100% of your target annual bonus (without giving effect to any company performance or other multiplier);

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Mr. David Iwanicki

December 7, 2007

Page 2

 

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12 months company-paid COBRA benefits (provided you timely elect COBRA coverage);

 

•

Six months of outplacement services; and

 

•

Acceleration of the vesting of 50% of the total number of shares originally subject to each of your stock options (i.e., two years of vesting).

The foregoing severance payment would be paid in a lump sum on the 30^th day following the date of your employment termination, provided that your Release Agreement has become effective in accordance with its terms prior to such 30^th day. The option acceleration set forth above would be effective on the date your Release Agreement has become effective.

Option Acceleration under Certain Conditions. If we terminate your employment because we eliminate your position as a result of a Commercial Asset Sale, but you receive an employment offer for a comparable position by an Acquiror (and you are not eligible for severance payments either as provided above, or under the ESRP), we would amend your stock options to accelerate the vesting of 25% of the shares subject to each of your stock options, which acceleration would be effective on the date of your employment termination and subject to your remaining employed in good standing through the termination date.

For clarity, the foregoing severance benefits and option acceleration is intended to apply to your separation from service with PDL under circumstances in which the benefits under the ERSP would not be available to you, and in all cases, you are entitled only to either the severance and option acceleration benefits described above, or, if applicable, those under the ERSP.

Provisions Regarding 2007 Bonus and 401(k) Match. Further, if your employment with PDL is terminated by PDL pursuant to any scenario set forth above before December 31, 2007, you also would receive, in addition to and at the same time as the severance benefits or one-time bonus described above, as applicable, a cash bonus (subject to tax withholding) equal to the amount of PDL’s match to your PDL 401(k) retirement savings plan account that you would have received had you remained employed with PDL through December 31, 2007. In addition, if your employment with PDL is terminated by PDL pursuant to any scenario set forth above before PDL pays out the 2007 company bonus, you would receive, at the time the 2007 company bonus is paid to employees (but in any event no later than March 15, 2008), the amount of your target bonus (pro-rated for your length of service in 2007, as adjusted by the company multiplier and subject to tax withholding).

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Mr. David Iwanicki

December 7, 2007

Page 3

 

Further Provisions. If you voluntarily leave PDL, you would not be eligible to receive any severance or other benefits benefits pursuant to this letter agreement.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this letter agreement to the contrary, no amount payable pursuant to this letter agreement on account of your termination of employment which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Section 409A Regulations”) will be paid unless and until you have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations. Furthermore, if you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations as of the date of your separation from service, no amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation which is payable on account of your separation from service will paid to you before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) which is first day of the seventh month after the date of your separation from service or, if earlier, the date of your death following such separation from service. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date will be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

PDL intends that income provided to you pursuant to this letter agreement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The provisions of this letter agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A. However, PDL does not guarantee any particular tax effect for income provided to you pursuant to this letter. In any event, except for PDL’s responsibility to withhold applicable income and employment taxes from compensation paid or provided to you, PDL will not be responsible for the payment of any applicable taxes on compensation paid or provided to you pursuant to this letter agreement.

Your eligibility for the severance and other benefits pursuant to this letter agreement is not intended change the “at will” nature of your employment with PDL. You would continue to be free to resign at any time, just as PDL would be free to terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause.

The terms of this letter agreement, when accepted by you, supersede, with the exception of the ERSP, all prior arrangements, whether written or oral, and understandings regarding the subject matter of this letter agreement and, except as provided in the ERSP, shall be the exclusive agreement for the determination of any payments and benefits you are due upon the events described in this letter agreement.

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Mr. David Iwanicki

December 7, 2007

Page 4

 

On behalf of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors I would like to thank you for your many contributions and for your continued support and dedication to PDL.

To indicate your acceptance of the terms of this letter agreement, please sign and date this letter agreement in the space provided below and return it to Jeff Coon, Sr. Director Human Resources.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ L. Patrick Gage

L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. Interim Chief Executive Officer

AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:

/s/ David Iwanicki

David Iwanicki

December 20, 2007

Date